LA Clippers vs Utah Jazz game preview

Keys to the Game

Both the LA Clippers and the Utah Jazz are without one of the members of their starting backcourt in this early season matchup. LAC guard Milos Teodosic suffered a plantar fascia injury in the team’s victory over the Phoenix Suns and UTA guard Rodney Hood is still suffering from a left leg strain that he suffered two games ago. With Teodosic out, the Clippers with slide Austin Rivers back into the starting lineup, a spot where he flourished last year in Chris Paul’s absence. In Utah’s last game, a 97-100 loss to the Timberwolves, the Jazz started rookie shooting guard Donovan Mitchell who they drafted with the 13th pick out of Louisville.

Both teams will be playing with small guard rotations due to injuries as the Jazz are also without Australian guard Dante Exum, who will likely miss the entire season. The Clippers are going to need Rivers to work his way out of the funk he’s been in to start the season and are also going to need rookies Sindarius Thornwell and Jawun Evans to play a few quality minutes in order to get the veterans some rest.